Colombian President Rejects 'Spurious' Legislative Vote in Venezuela

Speaking to RT, a former Venezuelan permanent representative to the United Nations and prominent opposition figure, Diego Aria, said the vote is aimed at overriding the opposition-controlled parliament by the "unconstitutional" elections.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has said the vote is a chance to bring unity and peace to the country.

"We will be checking people coming from other centers (.) so we can know if people are authorized to vote", Lucena said.

US Vice President Mike Pence spoke on Friday with opposition activist Leopoldo Lopez, who is under house arrest in Venezuela.

But both sides agree on one thing: The July 30 vote marks a crucial turning point after months of turbulence.

"My mother is ill, my wife is pregnant, and if I lose my job I'll be even worse off than I am now". "This would be the coup de grâce of democracy in Venezuela". The collapse in oil prices exacerbated this situation.

This week also saw Venezuela's black market exchange rate surge past 10,000 bolivars per dollar. Venezuela's money supply is up 384 percent in the previous year. This has had a huge impact on people's everyday lives and on the country's political system.

The election comes after months of sometimes deadly protests as an economic crisis has led many to flee the country in search of easier access to food and medicine.

"If this was a free election, without pressure, about a third of the number that participated in the popular consult would vote", he said, referring to the opposition referendum.

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Upcoming elections to the Constituent Assembly have split Venezuelan public opinion. The opposition refused to do this as well as stop supporting sanctions by the United States on the government, another Maduro demand. "This is the backdrop, and this is why the constituent assembly is being posed as one of the ways to break this deadlock and move forward". Although the ruling was partially rescinded, street protests have continued over food scarcities, rising crime and Maduro's autocratic actions, including what some describe as an illegal effort to rewrite the constitution.

More than 350 members of the new assembly are to be elected in open municipal votes.

Venezuela careened towards a showdown on Friday between anti-government protesters and security forces, as the death toll from months of demonstrations against embattled President Nicolas Maduro mounted - as did worldwide concern about the spiralling violence.

"Maduro's opponents say the assembly's rigged to be pro-government and will rewrite the constitution to make Venezuela an all-out dictatorship", NPR's Philip Reeves reports.

Countries around the world have condemned the new assembly as a blow to democracy. "Because there really are no solutions on the table to this deepening crisis". The opposition claimed Maduro was creating a dictatorship as impeachment attempts were blocked by the Court.

"The bigger problem is governance".

"If this election happens on Sunday, we lose everything".

"The question is whether that parallel government could govern", said Leon, the pollster. We lose Venezuela, " said a 23-year-old-woman who identified herself as a student, face covered against the gas, declining to give her name.

Venezuelans have been observing a 48-hour general strike form Wednesday deploring the possibility that their President could gain more sweeping powers.

But others stress that dialogue, and the support of the global community for it, are the keys to peace. "There's so much fear", said one PDVSA employee, who asked to remain anonymous to avoid reprisals. Avianca joined a long list of air carriers that have suspended service to Venezuela as the country sinks further into economic and political chaos.

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